Starting my career at TransAm

man that is to funny!

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but has anyone looked at the SMS ratings for TransAm? There are in red for unsafe drivers plus the other numbers are not that great. So if you're going to drive for TransAm you can expect a lot more inspections than normal and the company may go hogwild over safety now. There're also at a 13% accident rate where Swift and others are running around 7 to 8 percent. Just be aware.

 

This story sounds SO familiar.

Hope you make out OK.

Good Luck !!

 

The trucks that company drivers are in, started out as lease trucks. There are no trks there over 3 years old unless it is one of the very few L/O's that are making a go of it.

 

Holy crap DO NOT LEASE WITH THESE PEOPLE. Ernie at Olathe will flat out tell you to your face, "If you want to make $200 a week go company, if you want over a grand a week easy go lease, you know what I"m sayin?!" It is a flat out LIE. They say you don't have to take any load you don't want as a lease, which while technically is true, man they will tear you a new one if you do try to turn down a load. I drove with them for 7 months and could not stand it anymore. Ask their lease agent what the percent of drivers that successfully complete the 6 month least is and see what you get. I was told about 1 in 4. So 25% of their shortest lease is actually completed, total red flag for me. You CAN be successful at TransAm, I've seen some weighty paychecks, but I just got tired of being treated like an idiot child who is nothing more then a number that makes other numbers happen, kinda like what Panhandle said. They will tell you all the amazing things that lease drivers get, hell I went in die hard company and was almost talked into a lease after my OTR training (that's when they hammer it in hard) but for you and your families sake PLEASE do not lease. At least until you understand the industry very well, and if you do then at least NOT with TransAm.
You're Con's with company is "But they drive the older equipment that is less fuel efficient, smaller on the inside and will probably have more maintenance issues." Fuel efficient, who cares you're not paying for fuel, smaller on inside, you'll get a T660 or 600 unless you do a 5 year lease and get a T700 with not really a lot more room and Maintenance issues, chances are not really on this one. Since if you're not rolling it's costing THEM money both to pay for the trucks lease (ALL their trucks are leased, what the "lease" drivers are getting is a sublease) and paying for the fuel your TriPak is burning they want to take care of company trucks so they are always making the company money.
Oh and I think I remember you saying your wife had a medical condition, if I'm right PLEASE look at their insurance hard. Unless they changed it in the year I've been gone they have a clause that does NOT allow ANY preexisting conditions. My wife is diabetic and they would NOT cover her insulin, lancets or test strips until I had worked there for a year, then they would cover some of it.

-+

 

NegPos wrote:
"Since if you're not rolling it's costing THEM money both to pay for the trucks lease (ALL their trucks are leased, what the "lease" drivers are getting is a sublease) and paying for the fuel your TriPak is burning they want to take care of company trucks so they are always making the company money."

It's great that you're pumped about driving for this company, but please read the above quote. I'm sure the company will raise their company flags and put on quite the dog and pony show. You're going to do what you want, that's your prerogative, but I encourage you to use the SEARCH function here and do some research on the subject of TransAm leasing. Learn the ropes as a company driver. If you "must" lease, there are better than TransAm.

I'm usually one of the most positive, encouraging members here, but have a friend that went down that road a few years ago. It was u-g-l-y.